Cool Temperatures Coming to an End

After a period of unseasonably cool days, things will be “returning to normal,” Accuweather senior meteorologist Paul Walker says.

Over the past several days, State College and much of the Northeast United States has seen a stretch of low temperatures ranging from the upper 60s to mid 70s. Walker says that the jet stream dipped further south than it typically does, bringing cool air from Canada in what some called a return of last winter’s “polar vortex.”

Though weekend temperatures are still expected to hover around 76 and 78 on Saturday and Sunday, the heat will gradually increase through next week. Walker expects Monday to see temperatures in the low 80s, increasing to a high temperature of 88 by Wednesday.

With this increase in temperature also comes a gradual increase in humidity. Walker says this weekend will still be fairly dry, but the increase will become apparent by Monday and continue through the week.

“It’s going to stay fairly humid, and we’re going to have a threat of thunderstorms popping up each day,” Walker says.

Walker says it’s difficult to gauge the likelihood or severity of next week’s possible storms. Given the instances of flooding and severe weather watches over the past several weeks, caution – or at least an umbrella – may be wise.

Michael Martin Garrett is a reporter and editor for StateCollege.com who covers local government, the courts, the arts and writes the Keeping the Faith column. He's a Penn State alumnus, a published poet and the bassist in a local indie rock band.
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